Integral climbing boot

ABSTRACT

A climbing boot having a curved elongated shaft embedded vertically in a side of the boot and having an external spike attached to a lower end of the shaft wherein the boot may be used for climbing or walking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a climbing boot and more particularly to an integral tree and pole climbing boot having an elongated shaft embedded vertically in the boot and a spike attached to a lower end of the shaft.

2. Description of Related Art

Climbing trees or poles can be dangerous, tiring and aggravating without comfortable, strong boots having the means to provide a spike for penetrating the bark of trees or wood of poles.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,771 discloses a rigid support bar having a climbing spike at one end held in a horizontally disposed slot on the side of the boot near the heel.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,530 discloses an outer boot or shell adapted to be worn over an inner boot, the shell having a steel plate embedded in an inside portion and a replacement steel gaff fastened to the plate by set screws.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,775 discloses a shell for wrapping around a boot of the wearer, the shell having a spike mount for receiving different length spikes.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0064977 discloses a band placed around the top of a boot and a strap extending down under the boot having spike mount attached to the strap for receiving a spike.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a climbing boot having an integral carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) elongated shaft molded vertically in a side of the boot and a spike attached to the lower end of the shaft with nuts and bolts.

It is another object of this invention to provide an integral carbon fiber reinforced polymer curved elongated shaft for proper positioning of a spike on a side of the climbing boot.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a climbing boot that is stronger against the full leg of the climber resulting in a safer boot for the wearer/climber.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a climbing boot that is comfortable to wear both walking and climbing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a climbing boot having a spike on an inner side that does not touch the ground when the wearer is walking.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an alternate embodiment of a climbing boot made of molded plastic and having an elongated rib to which a climbing spike is mounted.

These and other objects are further accomplished by a climbing boot comprising a boot having an integral elongated shaft embedded within a side of the boot, an elongated shaft being curved to receive and position a spike near the heel of the boot, and a spike having a mounting portion and a spiking portion, the mounting portion attaching to a lower end of the shaft and the spiking portion extending downward. The spike comprises a sharp point for penetrating a tree bark, or the spike comprises a point for penetrating poles.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended claims particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of this invention. The various objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will be more fully apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a climbing boot having an internal curved carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) elongated shaft with an external spike attached with specifically designed nut and bolt system to a lower end of the shaft according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cut away of the side of the boot of FIG. 1 showing the curved elongated CFRP shaft having a spike attached at a lower end.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a left boot shaft and a right boot shaft.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a climbing spike.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a climbing spike.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 a side perspective view of a right climbing boot 10 is shown having an internal curved elongated carbon fiber reinforced polymer CFRP shaft 12 with an external tempered steel spike 16 attached to a lower end of the shaft 12 with two steel machine screws 22, 24 according to the present invention. The curve of the right boot elongated CFRP shaft 12 places the lower end of the shaft 12 just above the front edge of the heel for optimum distribution of boot forces and for stability. Important features of the present invention include that the climbing boot 10 can be worn for hours both climbing and walking without causing pain to the wearer's legs and that a tempered steel spike 16 attached to the shaft 12 does not touch the ground.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, FIG. 2 shows a cut away of the side of the climbing boot 10 in FIG. 1 exposing the curved elongated CFRP shaft 12, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a right elongated CFRP shaft 18 and a left elongated CFRP shaft 20. At the lower end of the right and left elongated CFRP shafts 18,20 is a pair of tapped holes on FIGS. 1 and 4 respectively for receiving the machine screws 22, 24 when attaching the spike 16 to the shaft 12. The tapped holes are within stainless steel T-grommets 17, 19 measuring approximately 0.875 inch long and 0.560 inches wide and 0.325 inches deep, and two T-grommets are embedded within the lower ends of the shafts 18, 20. As shown in FIG. 4 drilled holes 26, 28 are provided for receiving the steel screws 22, 24. As shown in FIG. 3 the length of the shafts 18, 20 is approximately 16 inches and the lower portion widens to accommodate nuts and bolts for securing the spike 16 to the boot 10.

Referring to FIG. 4 a top perspective view of a boot spike 16 is shown having two drilled holes for receiving the steel machine screws (½×20) 22, 24 when the spike 16 is attached to the climbing boot 10. The top portion of each hole 24, 26 is enlarged for receiving the head of a steel machine screw 24.

Referring to FIG. 5 a bottom perspective view of the boot spike 16 is shown having a center pin 30 extending from the bottom surface of the spike 16. The center pin 30 fits into a hole drilled in the lower portion of the elongated CFRP shafts 18, 20 approximately midway between drilled holes 26, 28 on the spike 16.

The boot 10 may be embodied by a motorcross boot made by Fox Head, Inc. of Morgan Hill, Calif. The elongated shafts 12, 14 are made by Plaistow PowerSport, of Plaistow, N.H.

The method of making the climbing boot 10 comprises the following steps:

-   -   1. Starting with a basic motorcross boot 11 such as a Fox         Competitive model, placing one of the shafts 12 or 14 on the         side of the boot 11.     -   2. Covering the shaft 12 or 14 with a strip of carbon fiber         reinforced polymer (CFRP) extending beyond the shaft on all         sides except over the tapped holes 26, 28.     -   3. Applying a liquid resin over the CFRP.     -   4. Sanding rough edges of CFRP covered with hardened resin.     -   5. Drilling hole in lower portion of shaft to receive center pin         30 of a spike 16.     -   6. Painting hardened resin with black gloss paint.     -   7. Attaching spike 16 to shaft 12 or 14 with steel machine screw         22, 24.

This invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferred embodiment. It will be apparent that many modifications can be made to the disclosed apparatus and method without departing from the invention. Therefore, it is the intent of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of this invention. 

1. A climbing boot comprising: a boot having an integral elongated shaft embedded within a side of said boot, said elongated shaft extending to a point just above a front edge of a heel of said boot; said elongated shaft being curved toward a toe of said boot at approximately midway along said shaft and then said elongated shaft curves downward toward said point just above a front edge of said heel of said boot in order to receive and position a spike near said heel of said boot; said spike having a mounting portion and a spiking portion, said mounting portion attaching to a lower end of said shaft and said spiking portion extending downward; and said shaft comprises a pair of spaced-apart tapped holes on said lower end of said shaft for receiving screws when attaching said spike to said shaft.
 2. The climbing boot as recited in claim 1 wherein said spike comprises a sharp point for penetrating a tree bark.
 3. The climbing boot as recited in claim 1 wherein said spike comprises a point for penetrating poles.
 4. The climbing boot as recited in claim 1 wherein said spike comprises a center pin extending from a bottom surface of said spike between said holes for securing said center pin within a mating hole drilled in said lower end of said shaft. 